Safe play

Baby proofing tips for your home

Date posted:
11 Jan 2017

Children and babies are natural explorers, using all of their senses (especially touch and taste) to discover the world around them. Follow our safety and hygiene advice below to keep your child safe from illness or injury as they explore and play in your home.

Is my home baby proof?

When baby proofing your home, think about each room as your child sees it – from the floor up. Here is a quick checklist:

Secure bookcases, shelves and drawer units to the wall if possible

Switch off and cover any exposed electrical outlets

Keep electrical cables out of reach and put unused appliances away

Cover sharp edges of furniture with a soft material like foam

Install smoke alarms in every room and check them regularly

Keep a first aid kit stocked and easily accessible to adults

Secure your windows and keep blind cords out of reach

Keep chemicals and medicines out of reach or in locked cupboards

Clean up any spills immediately and disinfect the area if required

Program emergency numbers into your phone and leave them visible for others

Keeping floors safe

When baby proofing your home, think about each room as your child sees it – from the floor up. Here is a quick checklist:

Secure bookcases, shelves and drawer units to the wall if possible

Switch off and cover any exposed electrical outlets

Keep electrical cables out of reach and put unused appliances away

Cover sharp edges of furniture with a soft material like foam

Install smoke alarms in every room and check them regularly

Keep a first aid kit stocked and easily accessible to adults

Secure your windows and keep blind cords out of reach

Keep chemicals and medicines out of reach or in locked cupboards

Clean up any spills immediately and disinfect the area if required

Program emergency numbers into your phone and leave them visible for others

Keeping floors safe

Keeping table tops and work surfaces clean is second nature. But it’s easy to forget that your child’s work surface is the floor. Without proper hygiene, harmful germs and bacteria can be walked in on visitors’ shoes and quickly spread from one room to another.

Regularly clean and disinfect the floors of your home to provide a healthy place for your child to play. Use Dettol 4in1 Disinfectant Multi Action Cleaner to kill 99.9% of bacteria and clean up any spills & stains on the floor.

Pet safety and hygiene

Having a pet can be rewarding for the whole family and is great for your child’s education. With a few simple house rules you can minimise the chance of bacteria being passed from your pet to your child.